Company Profile

Khulani Timber Industries is situated in Duiwelskloof also known as Modjadjiskloof, a small town in the Limpopo province in South Africa. Duiwelskloof is 20km north of Tzaneen, and 80km east of Polokwane.

The company manufactures treated poles to SANS specifications. SANS 754, SANS 457 and SANS 1288 applies to the company. Chemical processes carried out are creosote treatment and CCA (Copper, Chrome, Arsenic) or otherwise known as Tannalith C.

The treatment of timber poles are carried out in the two treatment plants. These plants are in operation around the clock, giving a treatment capacity of 4000m3 per month. Both processes are the Bethell (Full- Cell) process. The Tanalith C (or CCA as also know) is presently operating on a single shift, but has a capacity to manufacture 2500m3 per month. This Tanalith C plant also produce fencing poles as the creosote plant.

All timber poles longer than 7.0 meters are kiln dried. However, shorter poles that forms part of SANS 754 that have a larger top diameter of 140mm is also kiln dried. This will have bearing on cross-arms. Two drying kilns, with a combine capacity of 3000m3 per month, dry timber poles to the require moisture content in 5 - 8 days respectively.

Majority of our timber supply comes from Merensky Holdings. They have 17,000Ha of eucalyptus plantations in rotation which meets our needs. The company complies with F.S.C forestry management system, and accredited by Woodmark.

The treating plant is situated next to the railway siding, giving the company various option for the transporting of our treated poles. Poles can be transported by road (making use of our own transport or contractors) or by rail in the case of exporting by sea freight from either Durban or Maputo harbour.

Khulani Timber Industries is a national contract holder to Eskom for transmission poles, and supply poles to Telkom, electrical contractors and cross border to Botswana, Namibia, and Mozambique. We have supplied treated poles to Mauritius and Seychelles, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola, Congo, Etiopia and Sri Lanka.

All timber poles bear the ACT marking as mentioned above with our certification number being KTI/01. Our ISO 9001 was in place in 2002 and was originally certified by the SABS. In 2017/8 we had our ISO 9001:2015 stage 1 and 2 audit by ACT, and was certified with the ACT number KTI/01 - QMS.

A full range of products can be manufactured to the SANS 754 specification. This means that poles longer than 7.0 meters (and cross-arms) need to be kiln dried and pressure treated, compared to the past systems whereby timber poles could be air-dried and dip treated. The company manufacture creosoted poles of various diameters to a maximum length of 25.0 meters.

The tanalith C (Also know as CCA) plant manufactures fencing poles, and ranch fencing poles to SANS 457. Transmissions poles are also treated with tanalith C and are mostly used in the Northern African countries. The maximum pole length Khulani can produce in tanalith C is a 19.0 meter. The chemical used is produced by Arch Wood Protection (SA) and adheres to SANS 673 requirements.